These dynamic duos are setting the new standard for Charlotte power couples. While more established names make the list, you’ll find fresh faces bringing double doses of creativity to town.
By Michelle Boudin, Blake Miller and Michael J. Solender
(1) Andreas & Regine Bechtler
DANIEL COSTON
When Regine and Andreas Bechtler adopted Charlotte as their hometown, the city and its burgeoning arts scene got a serious upgrade. Andreas generously shared a portion of his extensive mid-century modern art collection with the community as the primary driver behind the creation of his family’s namesake Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. An accomplished artist, musician, entrepreneur, and collector, Andreas was recognized for his extensive philanthropic commitment to the community in 2015 with the prestigious North Carolina Order of the Longleaf Pine Award. Regine is an accomplished mixed media artist and fashion designer whose stunning Bohemian Peace Jackets, amazing sculpture, and playful artwork are in hot demand. The Bechtlers make studio space available to select artists at their “Little Italy” compound at nearby Mountain Island Lake.
(2) Herb & Felicia Gray
Life slowed a bit for Herb and Felicia Gray about two years ago when they welcomed baby Bailey, and yet they still manage to attend three to four charitable functions a month. On top of that, the couple runs monthly happy hours and the annual Gray Classic that provides educational and mentoring opportunities for students. Together they have raised almost $1 million for Charlotte-area charities by relying on a vast network of friends and colleagues. He runs his own business; she is a systems engineer for Bank of America. But Felicia admits, they also enjoy their downtime.
(3) Dan Roselli & Sara Garces Roselli
DAVIE HINSHAW Staff Photographer
Sara and Dan, co-founders of the Charlotte startup innovation hub and incubator haven Packard Place, are the city’s First Couple of entrepreneurship. Undeterred by the sour economic climate in 2011, the power couple executed a bold vision of an uptown crossroads where creativity, capital, and community intersect. Their gamble paid big dividends for Charlotte as Packard Place—now HQ Charlotte at Packard Place—has become an innovative ecosystem for new technology businesses and job creation, and a model for social entrepreneurship. Established in 1928 as a parking garage and showroom for the legendary Packard Motor Cars, the Rosellis’ re-imagined Packard Place is home to more than 100 of the region’s hottest and fastest growing startups.
(4) Jimmie & Chandra Johnson
via Harold Hinson Photography HAROLD HINSON HHP/HAROLD HINSON
Though Jimmie and Chandra Johnson aren’t natives of the South—let alone Charlotte— the stunning couple has become one of the city’s biggest names in arts, sports and philanthropy. This spring, the former model celebrated the one-year anniversary of the opening of her much-lauded SOCO Gallery in Myers Park while Jimmie celebrated his 77th win in NASCAR, passing Dale Earnhardt on the all-time win list. What’s more, the couple will toast to the 10-year anniversary of their Jimmie Johnson Foundation, which has contributed $8.8 million to various local charities, mainly focusing on K-12 public education.
(5) Scott Lindsley & Joey Hewell
Dustin Peck dustin peck photography, inc
Scott Lindsley is so humble about his and partner Joey Hewell’s accomplishments that he’s not sure why they might be considered a Charlotte power couple. But take one look at the couple’s involvement in the LGBT community in the Queen City (they were the first same sex marriage in Mecklenburg County) coupled with their help in reigniting NoDa’s monthly gallery crawl with the opening of gallery/bar NoDa Company Store this past spring, and it’s clear why they need to be on this list. And while their support of same sex marriage and the HB2 repeal has put them at the forefront of national events, it’s the couple’s Linwell Farms that’s garnered serious local attention. The garden in the duo’s backyard has been the site of dozens of gourmet dinners utilizing all of the garden’s harvest resulting in an intimate event for so many of the couple’s friends.
Photos: Gary O’Brien, SouthPark Magazine, Daniel Coston, Davie Hinshaw, Harold Hinson Photography, Dustin Peck Photography
